England: Olympic badminton player Gail Emms has admitted that having a baby saved her from depression – and probably saved her life.
Gail, who lives in Milton Keynes, is backing calls to help sports stars after they retire, and revealed she spiraled into depression after retiring from playing badminton in 2008.
She lives in the city with her husband Ed Vince and two children Harry and Oliver. The 37-year-old won the mixed doubles title in the 2004 and 2006 World Championships with Nathan Robertson, and also picked up a silver medal at the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
But she admits she probably wouldn’t be here had it not been for the birth of first son Harry.
Gail told the Sunday Mirror: “I was in a very strange place after retirement for about 10 months. I look back and think, ‘What was I doing?’ I was all over the place.
“I had panic attacks in the night. The main worries were financial. In badminton we don’t get paid a lot.
“I used to take it out on people. I love my family and friends, but I would ignore them and not speak to them for weeks.
“I was never diagnosed with depression, but looking back I definitely had a form of it.
“Then I fell pregnant with my son Harry and that was the best thing that could have happened to me.
“I had a focus, I was going to be a mum. I don’t know how long the depression would have gone on for, but I would not be here talking today if I hadn’t got pregnant.”
Gail is now backing the Sunday Mirror’s Time for Change campaign for better mental health care, and for sports groups to help prepare athletes after their professional career.
MKWeb
